Popular Post leeallen01 2,136 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 A message to anyone who says that anyone even comes close to the man, nay the legend, nay the god, nay the myth, nay the untouchable. I just wanted to start a topic where anyone, whenever they feel like it, can just come on here and write why he just f***ing rules. Any examples at all are welcome. Just fanboy the f***k out and poor your love for the man. Disclaimer: I may have had too many glasses of whiskey whilst listening to The Terminal, A New Hope and War Horse, and so am at the absolute top of getting carried away. But mean every word. Will, Bofur01, Marcus and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Damien F 1,742 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 It is an incredible feat for a film composer to write an iconic theme - one that breaks through into pop culture. I'm sure most film composers would be delighted writing just one of these themes. But his golden era of 1975 - 1984, JW was producing iconic themes left, right and center; all the while writing some of the most amazing music ever composed for orchestra. In 2001, he introduced a whole new generation to his talents with Harry Potter and wrote 2015's best score. Even if you ignore that golden era, his work before and since then has been amazing. JW is basically the perfect combination of musical talent and passion for his work. Cerebral Cortex, Bofur01, Pieter Boelen and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Loert 2,515 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 And a superhuman work ethic! (He used to work 12 hours a day for a film). MikeH, Damien F, leeallen01 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeallen01 2,136 Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 Though sometimes forgotten, my favourite score from him is The Terminal. It's so bloody perfect it hurts me. It sums up everything I love about John; his whimsy, his comedic warm feel, his unique ability to write music with a happy sadness quality, and this piece alone displays the skills he uses in every single score he writes, and why he can just add a gorgeous order and charm to chaos. John_Williams-Jazz_Autographs_The_Terminal_OST_.mp3 Cerebral Cortex and Pieter Boelen 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MikeH 768 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 One aspect of his work that astonishes me to no end is the depth of his orchestrations. Now I'm not in the camp that says orchestrations have to be complex in order to be wonderful. I do love me lots of Barry and streamlined Goldsmith. Looking at his sketches for cues like "Zam the Assassin" and "Journey to the Island" is often dizzying for me. There's so much going on, and a lot of it is not even noticeable until you look at the layers via the sketch/score. But it all contributes to the whole. This is a man who does this with pencil and paper, every day of his life. Even at two minutes a day, it's staggering to think that he can accomplish as much complexity as he does in the time allotted. It's very, very intense work. All of those 16th and 32nd note woodwind runs (think Journey to the Island), notated by hand, accidentals and all. Now some may argue that he could accomplish just as much emotionally with less orchestrational complexity. He did admit to streamlining a bit during the action sequences of TFA, wondering whether or not it was worth it since it will all be covered up with sound effects in the end. But at the end of the day, it's remarkable to think of how much music he's written over the years with such depth and mastery of orchestration. Cerebral Cortex, leeallen01, Will and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Cerebral Cortex 3,357 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 Damien already kinda touched on this one. 70s kids had the music to Star Wars, Jaws, Superman. Those were the iconic themes they grew up with, that defined their childhood. 80s kids got theirs with the Indiana Jones theme, 90s kids had Jurassic Park, and millennials got their fill with Harry Potter. And if all of these themes had been written each by individual respective composers, it would make them accomplished musicians in their own right. But you mean to tell me that all of those themes come from the mind of a single individual? That's incredible. The general rule to production is it's either quality or quantity. You can't have both. But with Williams you get both, have gotten both for decades. Here's a man who is able to score some of the biggest pictures in Hollywood just as well as he did 40 years prior. That's insane. And on top of all that, all that success, all those years of hard work, lies a man who by all accounts is a beautiful and humble human being whose life force and longevity seems to be tied directly to and fueled by an immense fascination, appreciation, and passion for music. Williams is the closest I've observed in my lifetime to being the literal definition of music incarnate. That's a god. leeallen01, artguy360, Pieter Boelen and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 What's the artist's name? Something Williams? MikeH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bryant Burnette 654 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 There are other film composers who have been as good occasionally; there are other film composers who have been good for as long. There are zero other film composers who have been AS good AS frequently for AS long. And there likely never will be. Pieter Boelen, leeallen01 and Gnome in Plaid 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 I love this thread!!! Will, Cerebral Cortex and Marcus 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien F 1,742 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 10 hours ago, loert said: And a superhuman work ethic! (He used to work 12 hours a day for a film). Listening to his interviews, I get the impression that he doesn't really consider it work. He simply loves composing music. I mean, when he isn't writing a score, what does he do for fun - he composes music! Also, it is a measure of his talent that Spielberg, who is very musically aware, has stayed with JW ever since their first score together. My second favorite composer is Goldsmith who is also an absolute legend. However, I can't really quantify exactly why JW is my favorite over Goldsmith. Goldsmith's body of work is exceptional and I can't fault him but JW just has that special undefinable quality that makes him so unique. I've travelled from Europe to US four times to see him in concert and don't think I would have done so for Goldsmith or anyone else. Naïve Old Fart and Loert 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,484 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 I just made a photo montage of 50 years of Christmases in my family... What music did I used, do you think? Home alone 1 & 2, Stepmom, Far and Away, Hook, Jurassic Park, A.I, Angela's ashes, E.T., The BFG. John Williams composed the music of our lives. He's like a family member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeallen01 2,136 Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 1 hour ago, Bespin said: John Williams composed the music of our lives. He's like a family member. This should be the dictionary definition of him. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,520 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 If you only judged from his post-2005 output, I would say he was 'touchable' (that sounds wrong somehow), but that he was still in the upper echelon of composers. If you take his entire output into consideration, however, there's no doubt in my mind that there has never been a better film composer in the history of cinema. That he's also my alltime favourite composer even when taking centuries of classical music into consideration, is something that is more personal (in other words, I wouldn't say he was the greatest composer who ever lived). But yeah -- long live Williams! P.S. I like that you have THE TERMINAL as your favourite score, leeallen. Certainly not mine, but I like it, and I love it when people pick unusual choices for the top spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 25, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2016 You guys are all drunk. Bofur01, Will and MikeH 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeH 768 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 17 hours ago, loert said: And a superhuman work ethic! (He used to work 12 hours a day for a film). I remember the fun anecdote that karelm shared with us once (via JW's brother Don) about how during family vacations while everyone would be outside in the swimming pool, John would be composing in the hotel room. It's just how he likes to relax. He lives, breathes, and eats music. Horner had his airplanes, Jerry had his technology, etc. I'm sure John has things other than music he enjoys (trees?), but what I've gathered is that music is really the main focal point in his life. Regardless of the innate talent and skill that he was obviously born with, the momentum and craft that one builds with that much detailed focus on a particular subject is bound to be incredible. Will and Not Mr. Big 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 2 hours ago, BloodBoal said: You guys are all drunk. Of course not, except Me and Leeallen01. If this thread annoys you, you can move to badcomposers.com or you can join us. He is still the hero of many of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 I've been getting off to Williams almost exclusively all weekend. I only briefly took a break yesterday to go out and I guess I was craving Williams so much that I ended up buying a Revenge of the Sith poster to add to my film music art collection. I woke up with the Chamber of Secrets score still playing, as if no time had passed. Horner's getting sloppy seconds now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 Simply you do not like him, nothing to be proud of. Again who are you?, too lazy to go namechange thread. edit: read that again you still have a chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 It's ET&Elliot, judging from the hint of nervous breakdown i get from the text. Gnome in Plaid and Gruesome Son of a Bitch 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome in Plaid 219 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 13 hours ago, Bryant Burnette said: There are other film composers who have been as good occasionally; there are other film composers who have been good for as long. There are zero other film composers who have been AS good AS frequently for AS long. And there likely never will be. "There are other film composers who have been as good occasionally; there are other film composers who have been good for as long. There are zerofew other film composers who have been AS good AS frequently for AS long. And there likely never will be." Fixed. As far as living composers (and not just for film) go, the only person with a comparable career (sustained quality over such a long duration) is Penderecki. Bryant Burnette 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 John Adams is approaching that in terms of duration now, ain't he? One of the few living greats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 What films did he score? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 31 minutes ago, Prerecorded Briefing said: John Adams is approaching that in terms of duration now, ain't he? One of the few living greats. The Copland-esque music from Amistad? 1 hour ago, hornist said: Simply you do not like him, nothing to be proud of. Again who are you?, too lazy to go namechange thread. edit: read that again you still have a chance You always overreact. I thought you were leaving the forums because no one liked The BFG? You know I love Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Forget it, Rose. It's hornist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 4 minutes ago, Koray Savas said: Desplat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 21 hours ago, hornist said: I love this thread!!! The NeoFans will be irritated by it though. 8 hours ago, Rose Dawson said: You always overreact. I thought you were leaving the forums because no one liked The BFG? You know I love Williams. I'm not sure Hornist was replying to you. Joni Wiljami 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 11 minutes ago, Quintus said: The NeoFans will be irritated by it though. That's why I posted that lovely statement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 He is quite remarkable isn't he? It's more than an achievement to be able to develop, sustain and push the boundaries of one's craftsmanship for as long as he has. To think he was still breaking new ground for himself as recent as 2005 is amazing. Practically unrivalled career-wise, in film music, I'd argue. artguy360 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 He's no Johann Johannson though, right KK? Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Maybe he'll get there someday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 20 hours ago, Thor said: If you only judged from his post-2005 output, I would say he was 'touchable' (that sounds wrong somehow) Yes, it does. Joni Wiljami 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jediwashington 59 Posted December 26, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 26, 2016 Williams is a modern day Gershwin that took progressive jazz and standards writing and dressed it up for orchestra. I'm constantly amazed at his depth of compositional language from a chordal stand point and the areas he explores. It's much easier to analyze his works from a jazz perspective than from a traditional theory. He uses keys to influence mood unlike any other composer for film. It's quite clear he has a deep love of ballet, opera, and tone poems. His awareness of the standard rep and even the more esoteric material has certainly informed his orchestrations and given him this incredible paintbrush to use for every film he works on. From a music stand point, it's his timbre and tone colors that make his style so unique. As well, his ear is impeccable as a conductor. I have never regarded him as a good conductor (and I have no doubt that was part of the reason Boston and him had some trouble at one point) but he has great ears from the podium and no one can create as clean a take as he can so quickly. He does have the best playing for him, but that is only part of the equation. But by far my favorite thing about Williams is his humility and somewhat self loathing quality. He writes what he thinks is needed for the film and never boasts that his work is any good. He simply enjoys the journey of writing, refuses to let the strict classical community get to him, and continues to explore his own voice while staying true to the core of his style, even at this age. His work ethic is incredible as well and given his personality and love for writing, I have no doubt that some of his best works and sketches will be discovered in a filing cabinet labeled "little nothing works." It's sad that I really don't see anyone as complete of a musician as him coming up through film. He has been blessed to have a name that allowed him to blow holes through most fast pace production environments and consider the music as a complete package that needed time, but the younger folks don't have this liberty. It's probably the true reason he doesn't work with any young directors aside from the price. Overall, I think his work will be looked upon for centuries as the culmination of the symphonic film score era. I hope someone close to him can encourage him at this age to take on a protege to learn some of his shortcuts, discussions with directors during spotting, and learn some more detailed insight to the process so we can continue truly symphonic scores that actually match film moving forward. Loert, Will, leeallen01 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 16 minutes ago, BloodBoal said: John Williams is at his best when doing big bombastic music. When trying to do concert music, though... Taikomochi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Will and Gruesome Son of a Bitch 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 1 hour ago, BloodBoal said: John Williams is at his best when doing big bombastic music. When trying to do concert music, though... The voice of NewNeoNeoJWfan Rebooted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1Ø66 4,722 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 If Williams is untouchable, then why did he leave Harry Potter after the third film? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 The quality declined? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 1 hour ago, Nick1066 said: If Williams is untouchable, then why did he leave Harry Potter after the third film? I don't understand the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 1 minute ago, Quintus said: I don't understand the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 3 minutes ago, Quintus said: I don't understand the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 How do you feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 8 minutes ago, BloodBoal said: Cremeritis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Star Wars fan scum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 1 hour ago, Stefancos said: The quality declined? It only declined because Williams left! Gruesome Son of a Bitch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 14 minutes ago, Stefancos said: Cremeritis! You posted it after me, but your post appeared before mine for whatever reason. Another bug to add to the list, I suppose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Nonsense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Bugs generally are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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